Primetime -- "But I Want It To Be True"

In the middle of the Country watching BHO deliver his primetime healthcare pitch. Three things that really standout.

1. "Just say it -- even if it ain't true." When the debate is not a debate, but a monologue, then the president (and the last president, and many presidents) choose to prey upon this format to make conclusions that just don't exist. Out of deep respect for the process, those in disagreement sit quietly, but cannot really challenge. Therefore, those behind the pulpit are prone to making wide sweeping pronouncements that simply are not true. Case in point is BHO saying tonight that the "members of the chamber are in 80% agreement on healthcare reform." Really? Since when? Explain please? From where I sit I see two fundamentally opposite points of view -- one that says government is the answer and one that says government is the problem. Tell me where is the 80%? Perhaps he meant "gettable" votes?

2. What is he really doing with this address? The bill is out of its component committees and drafted, so isn't this really about "bucking up" the legislature with pomp and rah to give them the 'courage' to defy their constituencies and vote this ugly thing into being? Isn't that what this is about?

3. The complete lack of substance and all the standing and cheering loudly reminds me of a high school pep rally where the ones with loudest contingent win the title of ASB president. No time for logic or real policy or real points -- just a world of shifting emotion with lots and lots of cheering. That seems to be the main job of the VP and Speaker in these situations -- to properly control and contort their facial expressions and then lead the congregation in cheers of glee (for the cameras) to "whip up support." I think it is an ugly way to proceed with the debate, and shameful. This behavior happens with either party in charge, but it does seem the democrats have raised the art of appearance to a new level of superficiality.